ESPN Player ranking - The Cavs players

[Omar The Horse]

ESPN has Jeremy Lin ranked over Dion Waiters.

 

[dano_24_26]

Somehow Al Jefferson made his list and Anthony Davis did not...can someone else explain that one to me? Haha

I think he was randomly coming up with players that came to his mind. The question I have is, how is Westbrook in this conversation? They need to take the ball out of that kids hands.

 

[Jack Brickman]

If I were ranking players based on last year, I'd put Wall ahead of Kyrie. If I were ranking them based on where I thought they'd be by the end of this year, Kyrie would be ahead of Wall. It's as simple as that, really.

 

[Simon]

Somehow Al Jefferson made his list and Anthony Davis did not...can someone else explain that one to me? Haha

Did you not see how he performed last year for Charlotte? He pretty much changed the team last year.

 

[mhi]

ESPN has Jeremy Lin ranked over Dion Waiters.

Yeah, that one is a head scratcher; and only helps to discredit their list.

 

[Rager]

Isn't Nerlens also ranked higher than Dion?

 

[LBJordan23]

I would also put Dion on that list of "addition by subtraction" players. Both Jlin and Dion are solid players. Dion has wayyyyy more upside in terms of potential and natural ability. JLin is a better teammate and a solid 6-7th man.

The problem with Dion is not his physical ability, but mental. He has a lot of team-killer/cancer potential.

 

[OptimusPrime]

Team killers and cancers don't make their team better when they are on the floor. With Waiters on the floor last year the Cavs had the point differential of the Brooklyn Nets. With him off the floor they had the point differential of the Orlando Magic. Some of you new bandwagoners should read up on the players you are trying to critique.

 

[MoFlo]

I would also put Dion on that list of "addition by subtraction" players. Both Jlin and Dion are solid players. Dion has wayyyyy more upside in terms of potential and natural ability. JLin is a better teammate and a solid 6-7th man.

The problem with Dion is not his physical ability, but mental. He has a lot of team-killer/cancer potential.

Completely disagree. He wants to win & he's a crazy competitor. With what him & Kyrie had to go through their first 2 & 3 years in the league, respectively, I'm willing to give both the benefit of the doubt as far as the rumors go.

Winning cures all, and we'll be doing a lot of that. He'll still get his minutes, he'll still get his shots, and he'll be winning. He'll be happy.

 

[Rich]

I've been ok with the rankings up to this point, but today was awful. Oladipo ahead of a bunch of people he shouldn't be. Wes Matthews being the most egregious.

 

[catfish]

I would also put Dion on that list of "addition by subtraction" players. Both Jlin and Dion are solid players. Dion has wayyyyy more upside in terms of potential and natural ability. JLin is a better teammate and a solid 6-7th man.

The problem with Dion is not his physical ability, but mental. He has a lot of team-killer/cancer potential.

I wonder if this poster watched any games last year.

 

[Sumac13]

I don't think the team-kill/cancer potential comment was in reference to what went on during the games last year, so much as about what went on in the locker room (or rumored to have gone on). One can affect the team off of the court. Will it be an issue this year? I don't think so, but it will be interesting to watch to see how Dion is used and how he reacts to it. Let's not pretend it isn't worth monitoring. Few can question his passion. It is part of what makes him so good and likable to many.

 

[LBJordan23]

I don't the team-kill/cancer potential comment was in reference to what went on during the games last year, so much as about what went on in the locker room (or rumored to have gone on). One can affect the team off of the court. Will it be an issue this year? I don't think so, but it will be interesting to watch to see how Dion is used and how he reacts to it. Let's not pretend it isn't worth monitoring. Few can question his passion. It is part of what makes him so good and likable to many.

Thank you for being basically the only person in here to bother understand the context of what I wrote.

A perfect example of a cancer would be Gilbert Arenas. Had phenomenal gifts on the court, but his off-the-court tactics, his attitude, and his lack of humility created a glass ceiling for the team he played for. If I owned a team and I had an option of picking Arenas or an NBDL level player, I'm picking that NBDL player with high character first. I'll take some early losses, but a good org will eventually lead to bringing in future high-character talent, and eventually a winning team eventually.

Dion Waiters is not a superstar, all-star, or franchise player in this league. Because of that, he's considered a role player (anywhere from 4th option to 8th option on a contender), correct? So ask yourself this, does he have the characteristics of the role player we've watched over the years on championship teams?

IMO, the perfect role players have these characteristics:
1. Unselfish and understand their role
2. Willing to sacrifice and take fewer shots
3. Be the go-to defender if they had to, or a spot up 3pt shooter if they had to
4. Guys respect them in the locker room. They don't say much, but when they do, people listen.
5. Willing to do nothing but the dirty work to help the team WIN.

Examples: Horry, Kukoc, Rodman, Bruce Bowen, Bryon Russell, Rick Fox, Fisher, Shaw, most of the players on the Rockets 93-95 team, Byron Scott, Nick Anderson, Horace Grant, Kawhli Leonard, Shawn Marion, Tony Allen, James Posey, Tayshaun Prince, Shane Battier.

Dion Waiters is not a superstar or even all-star, but he's also not THE ROLE PLAYER because he has visions of grandeur. He's the type to think he's better than Kyrie, better than LeBron and better than MJ. Legit role players understand humility and know their role. Waiters already publicly announced he's unwilling to come off the bench. Really Dion? What if you coming off the bench is for the betterment of the team?

Let's just hope that having LBJ and other vets around can help him. Otherwise, it's a good idea to trade him while he has some "value". I'm indifferent towards him emotionally...I just think he's the next Michael Beasley.

 

[Sticker114]

Thank you for being basically the only person in here to bother understand the context of what I wrote.

A perfect example of a cancer would be Gilbert Arenas. Had phenomenal gifts on the court, but his off-the-court tactics, his attitude, and his lack of humility created a glass ceiling for the team he played for. If I owned a team and I had an option of picking Arenas or an NBDL level player, I'm picking that NBDL player with high character first. I'll take some early losses, but a good org will eventually lead to bringing in future high-character talent, and eventually a winning team eventually.

Dion Waiters is not a superstar, all-star, or franchise player in this league. Because of that, he's considered a role player (anywhere from 4th option to 8th option on a contender), correct? So ask yourself this, does he have the characteristics of the role player we've watched over the years on championship teams?

IMO, the perfect role players have these characteristics:
1. Unselfish and understand their role
2. Willing to sacrifice and take fewer shots
3. Be the go-to defender if they had to, or a spot up 3pt shooter if they had to
4. Guys respect them in the locker room. They don't say much, but when they do, people listen.
5. Willing to do nothing but the dirty work to help the team WIN.

Examples: Horry, Kukoc, Rodman, Bruce Bowen, Bryon Russell, Rick Fox, Fisher, Shaw, most of the players on the Rockets 93-95 team, Byron Scott, Nick Anderson, Horace Grant, Kawhli Leonard, Shawn Marion, Tony Allen, James Posey, Tayshaun Prince, Shane Battier.

Dion Waiters is not a superstar or even all-star, but he's also not THE ROLE PLAYER because he has visions of grandeur. He's the type to think he's better than Kyrie, better than LeBron and better than MJ. Legit role players understand humility and know their role. Waiters already publicly announced he's unwilling to come off the bench. Really Dion? What if you coming off the bench is for the betterment of the team?

Let's just hope that having LBJ and other vets around can help him. Otherwise, it's a good idea to trade him while he has some "value". I'm indifferent towards him emotionally...I just think he's the next Michael Beasley.

That argument would make sense if Dion's skillset actually limited him to bring a role player

 

[Pioneer10]

Thank you for being basically the only person in here to bother understand the context of what I wrote.

A perfect example of a cancer would be Gilbert Arenas. Had phenomenal gifts on the court, but his off-the-court tactics, his attitude, and his lack of humility created a glass ceiling for the team he played for. If I owned a team and I had an option of picking Arenas or an NBDL level player, I'm picking that NBDL player with high character first. I'll take some early losses, but a good org will eventually lead to bringing in future high-character talent, and eventually a winning team eventually.

Dion Waiters is not a superstar, all-star, or franchise player in this league. Because of that, he's considered a role player (anywhere from 4th option to 8th option on a contender), correct? So ask yourself this, does he have the characteristics of the role player we've watched over the years on championship teams?

IMO, the perfect role players have these characteristics:
1. Unselfish and understand their role
2. Willing to sacrifice and take fewer shots
3. Be the go-to defender if they had to, or a spot up 3pt shooter if they had to
4. Guys respect them in the locker room. They don't say much, but when they do, people listen.
5. Willing to do nothing but the dirty work to help the team WIN.

Examples: Horry, Kukoc, Rodman, Bruce Bowen, Bryon Russell, Rick Fox, Fisher, Shaw, most of the players on the Rockets 93-95 team, Byron Scott, Nick Anderson, Horace Grant, Kawhli Leonard, Shawn Marion, Tony Allen, James Posey, Tayshaun Prince, Shane Battier.

Dion Waiters is not a superstar or even all-star, but he's also not THE ROLE PLAYER because he has visions of grandeur. He's the type to think he's better than Kyrie, better than LeBron and better than MJ. Legit role players understand humility and know their role. Waiters already publicly announced he's unwilling to come off the bench. Really Dion? What if you coming off the bench is for the betterment of the team?

Let's just hope that having LBJ and other vets around can help him. Otherwise, it's a good idea to trade him while he has some "value". I'm indifferent towards him emotionally...I just think he's the next Michael Beasley.

You never heard of the irrational confidence guy? You've written a great description for guys who aren't superstars but aren't role players either and who are confident enough that they can win a playoff game for you when nothing else is working. Vinnie Johnson, Vernon Maxwell, Jason Terry, etc all say hello.